Toy switch apparatus

ABSTRACT

APPARATUS FOR USE IN BATTERY POWERED TOYS TO SWITCH THEM ON AND OFF. A SWITCH FOR MANUALLY STARTING A TOY THAT AUTOMATICALLY LATCHES ON IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING, COMPRISES A BATTERY COVER PLATE WHICH CAN BE PRESSED IN TO PUSH THE BATTERY MOMENTARILY AGAINST A CONTACT. A SWITCH FOR AUTOMATICALLY TURNING OFF A TOY WHEN IT FALLS OVER COMPRISES A CONTACT MEMBER THAT IS DEFLECTED BY BATTERY WEIGHT WHEN THE TOY FALLS TO A HORIZONTAL POSITION, TO ALLOW THE BATTERY TO MOVE AWAY FROM AN OPPOSITE BATTERY CASE CONTACT.

23; I D, BEAR .ETALJ TOY swi TcH APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed De.,

m W 5 x m AM j! r M Feb. 23, 1971' Filed Dec. 5 1968 D. L. BEAR E AL TOY SWITCH APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet *2 Mil i/IOWA; 0411/0 1. 364? 695402; x. 604/ 1?! ark? T-United States Patent Ofice 3,564,761 TOY SWITCH APPARATUS David L. Bear, Palos Verdes, and Gregory M. Gunther, Palos Verdes Estates, Calif., assignors to Mattel, Inc., Hawthorne, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 5, 1968, Ser. No. 781,559 Int. Cl. A63h 33/00 US. CI. 46-45 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention relates to electrically energized toys, and more particularly to switches therefor.

Description of the prior art Some electrical toys, such as those that play a recording, include means for de-energizing the toy at the end of a playing cycle. A separate overriding switch is then employed which can be operated by a child to momentarily close the energizing circuit. After a moment of operation, the toy is latched on until the end of the next playing cycle. The cost of the toys can be minimized by simplifying the overriding switch and its installation,

Another switch action is sometimes employed for some electrical toys such as walking dolls that can fall over, to prevent excessive battery wear. Switches are used in these cases, to de-energize the toy if it should fall over.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a very simple and economical switch for starting electrical toys.

Another object is to provide a very simple and economical switch for de-energizing electrical toys when they are tipped over.

In accordance with the present invention, switches of extreme simplicity are provided for electrically powered toys. One embodiment of the invention is useful as a restarting switch for a battery-powered toy that automatically turns off after each playing cycle, but which latches on after momentary re-starting. The re-starting switch comprises a circuit wherein one battery terminal is biased away from a re-start circuit terminal. The cover plate of the battery case can be pressed in by a child to push the battery terminal against the re-start terminal, thereby briefly re-starting the toy so it can latch on.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, useful for a toy such as a walking doll that can tip over, a switch is provided for automatically de-energizing the toy. The switch comprises two battery case terminals for contacting opposite ends of a battery, wherein one case terminal is an easily deflected spring. When the toy falls over, the battery weight deflects the spring terminal so that the battery loses contact with the opposite battery case terminal and the toy stops.

The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention will 3,564,761 Patented Feb. 23, 1971 be best understood from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view of a toy with switch apparatus constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, in an operating condition;

IFIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of F G. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a toy with switch apparatus constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the invention, for de-energizing the toy when it falls over;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the toy of FIG. 5 in a fallen position;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 77 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a partial sectional view of still another embodiment of the invention for de-energ-izing the toy when it falls over.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows the torso of a doll 10 which includes a sound producing device 12 of a type disclosed in co-pending application S.N. 699,653, filed Jan. 22, 1968 and hereby incorporated by reference. The sound producing device includes an endless record band 14 with several record tracks, and a stylus 16 for engagement in a track to produce the desired sounds. The record band is supported by a press roll 18, and is driven by a capstan 20 that is coupled to a motor 22. The motor is energized by a pair of energy storage cells or batteries 24 and 26. As will be described in greater detail below, the sound producing device is constructed to interrupt the motor-energizing circuit after each revolution of the record band. Re-starting is accomplished by the child pressing on the battery case cover 62 to move the battery 24 against a restart terminal 64, to briefly energize the motor until it is again latched on.

The motor energizing circuit extends from motor terminal 28 through conductor 30 to one end 32 of an operator 34. When the operator is in the position 34A, it presses against a contact 36 which is connected through conductor 38 to a flexible conductor 40. The circuit further extends through positive terminal 42 of battery 24, and from the neagtive terminal 44 of that battery through coupling 46 to the positive terminal 48 of battery 26. Finally, the negative terminal 50 of the latter battery is coupled through conductor 52 to the other terminal 54 of the motor.

The sound producing device is constructed to turn 01f after one rotation of the record band 14. This is accomplished by a slot in the band that engages a finger 56 on the operator 34, to move the operator away from contact 36 and thereby open the motor circuit. Once the motor is re-started for a brief period, the finger 56 is moved along with the band until it reaches a ramp 58 that lifts it clear of the band slot. A spring 60 on the operator 34, then moves the operator into position 34A, to again complete the motor circuit. The motor remains latched on until the next rotation of the band.

In accordance with the invention, apparatus is provided for enabling a child to re-start the motor by pressing on the side 63 of cover 62 of the battery case, as shown in FIG. 2. When the battery case cover is pressed, the coupling 46 pushes battery 24 forward, deflecting flexible conductor 40 until it contacts a re-start terminal 64.

The re-start terminal 64 is coupled through re-start conductor 66 directly to motor terminal 28. The re-start circuit portion parallels, or bypasses, the circuit portion which passes through operator 34. Normally, a child will not press continuously on the battery cover plate 62, although continual pressing does no harm. However, only a brief depressing of the cover plate is suflicient to cause the toy to latch on.

The cover plate, whose inner side is shown in FIG. 3,

is held to the doll 10 by two hinges 70 and '72 and a latch 74. The hinges and latch normally are in contact with the inside of the surrounding doll body 11, but can move inwardly when pressed in. This construction could allow the cover plate to fall ofl the doll when the cover plate is opened to change batteries, so a flexible holding strap 76 of plastic or the like is provided, which has an end 78 fixed to the doll body. The construction of the re-starting switch means is very simple and economical. In addition, it eliminates the requirement for a separate lever, button, or other operating means on the outside of the doll in addition to the battery case cover plate which is present anyway. Thus, the lifelike appearance of the doll is enhanced. The re-starting means can, of course, be used with toys having battery operated activating means that cause it to move in a given lifelike manner or perform other activity, instead of the sound producing device 12.

FIG. illustrates another doll 100 which is driven by a motor 102 to walk, and which includes switch apparatus 104 for de-energizing the motor when the doll falls over. The termination of operation results from the weight of a battery in a battery case 105, which deflects an easily deflected spring contact member 107 or :109. When the battery deflects a contact member, it moves away from the opposite battery case terminal and the electrical circuit which energizes the motor is interrupted.

The doll includes a transmission 106 which couples the motor to each of the doll legs 108 and 110 to move them in a manner that causes walking. The doll is supported only by a pair of shoes, and may fall over either forward or backward. The doll body and arms generally prevent the doll from lying on its side even if it should fall sideways, so falling over almost always results in the doll lying with its face directly down or directly up.

When the doll is operated by a small child, he may not turn off the switch that operates the motor or other moving means when the doll falls over, but just let it lay kicking. This results in the batteries quickly wearing out. Even in the case of an older child, it is often desirable to have the doll start and stop merely by placing it upright or laying it down prone, as this eliminates the effort of operating a switch. The switch apparatus 104 provides for such automatic activation and deactivation.

As also shown in FIG. 6, the motor energizing switch comprises conductor 112 which extends from motor terminal 114 to battery case contact member 107, and through battery 116 to a button 128 on contact member 109. The circuit further extends through battery 118, battery case contact member 120 and conductor 122 to the other motor terminal 124. When the doll is horizontal with its face down, as represented in FIGS. 6 and 7, the weight of battery 116 deflects battery case contact member 107. This allows the positive terminal 126 of battery 116 to move away from contact button 128 on the contact member 109, thereby opening the circuit. The contact button 128 is mounted to prevent its movement toward the contact 107, so the separation of button 128 from member 107 can exceed the length of the battery to open the circuit.

The contact member 107 is made with suflicient stiffness so that when the toy is righted, the contact member 107 pushes the battery back against contact member or button 128. For example, in a toy that uses batteries which weigh 6 ounces each, the member 107 can be mounted so it is preloaded to press in with a force of 4 ounces at the position where the battery contacts. button 128. A tab 130 is provided to prevent excessive downward movement of the battery, so it does not fall out. The contact member 109 is fixed to a battery case cover 111 that can be removed for changing thebatteries.

, The switch apparatus 104 also includes means for deenergizing the motor in case the toy should fall backwards. This is accomplished by providing a contact end 132 on the member 109 which can be readily deflected, and another contact member 120 that is stiff. The easily deflected end 132 is laterally adjacent to. the rigidly held button 128 while the unyielding contact member 120 is laterally adjacent to the flexible member 107. In case the doll falls backwards, the other battery 118 deflects the end 132 of contact member 109 toward the battery case cover 111. As a result, battery terminal 134 moves away from the contact member 120 and opens the motor circuit. The contact member 120 is very stiff, while member 109 is easily deflected, as by a force of 4 ounces for batteries of 6 ounce weight. Thus, the toy is de-energized regardless of the direction in which it falls over.

FIG. 8 illustrates another switch apparatus which can be used with even a single battery to interrupt the motor energizing circuit when the doll falls either forward or backward. The apparatus comprises a battery case having stops 142 and 144 at either-end that limit the extreme positions of the battery. The battery terminals are engaged by contact members 146 and 148 to complete the motor energizing circuit through a motor (not shown). Each of the contact members 146 and 148 is an easily deflected spring which is biased against its respective battery terminal 150 and 152. However, deflection stops 154 and 156 limit the inward movement of each of the contact members.

When the toy falls to a face-down position wherein the battery terminal 152 points down, the weight of the battery deflects contact 148 until the battery is stopped by the case stop 144. At this position, the contact member 148 is deflected to the position 148A, wherein it remains engaged with the battery terminal 152. However, the opposite contact member 146 is prevented from moving against the battery by the deflection stop 154. Accordingly, it loses contact with the battery terminal 150 and the motor energizing circuit is interrupted. In an analogous manner, when the toy falls backward, the contact'member 1 48 is prevented from following the battery by deflection stop 156. The contact member 148 then loses contact with the battery, and the motor energizing circuit is interrupted. Of course, the embodiment of FIG. 8 can be used with a toy that is energized by more than one battery, by connecting one of the contact members 146 or 148 to the other battery instead of directly to the motor.

Thus, the invention provides switches for restarting and for automatically stopping toys. The switches are incorporated in the battery cases of the toy to promote simplicity and enhance the appearance and operation of the toy.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated herein, it is recognized that modifications and variations may readily occur to those skilled in the art, and consequently, it is intended that the claims be interpreted to cover such modifications and equivalents.

We claim:

1. An activatible toy which can be powered by an electrical storage cell that has first and second cell terminals comprising:

electrically energizable activating means having first and second activating means terminals; means for holding said electrical storage cell; first and second coupling means for coupling said first and second storage cell terminals to said first and second activating means terminals, respectively;

terminating means for interrupting said first coupling means; and

re-start means including a re-start terminal normally spaced from said first cell terminal,

means for coupling said re-start terminal to said first activating means terminal,

means for biasing apart said first cell terminal and said re-start terminal, and

means for receiving manual forces to move said first cell terminal and said re-start terminal into contact, said means for receiving manual forces a battery case cover mounted at one end of said case for inward movement to move said re-start contact and said second battery terminal into electrical contact.

4. The toy described in claim 3 wherein:

said means for biasing comprising a flexible conductor member for pressing against said second battery terminal to urge it away from said re-start contact; and

said second coupling means comprises an electrical conductor connected to said flexible conductor comprises a cell case cover mounted on an outer member. surface of said toy for inward movement under 5. The toy described in claim 3 including: manual pressing forces. an outer toy wall having a battery cover aperture there- 2. In an activatible toy including a motor having first in; and wherein and second terminals for receiving power from an elecsaid battery case cover comprises at least one hinge trical storage cell having first and second cell terminals, a switch device comprising:

a battery case for holding said electrical storage cells; a defiectable electrical conductor extending across said case in contact with one of said storage cell terminals; an electrical conductor connecting the other of said storage cell terminals to one of said motor terminals;

projection engaging the inner surface of said wall to permit inward movement of said cover. 6. The toy described in claim 5 including: strap means for supporting said battery case cover when it is opened. 7. In a motion toy including a motor having first and second motor terminals for using power from an electrical storage cell that has first and second cell terminals, a switch device comprising:

switch means connecting said deflectable conductor to the other of said motor terminals, said switch means cell case means for guiding said storage cell between first and second positions;

interrupting fl of current to id motor h a first contact member for engaging said first cell terid it h means i open; minal, said first contact member being resilient for a fixed contact mounted on said case adjacent said deurging Said cell to Said Second Position With a fOrCe gecfltable;j 1contact for (engagement thereby when said l l l: may be ve dw et by thetfull wgight if said 3 ecta 6 ontact is e ecte ;and ce earlng O11 sar l'S COIIIHC mem er, W ere y an electrical lead connecting said fixed contact to said said @611 Will be moved to Said Second Position When other of said motor terminals, said deflectable consaifi y is oriented in 3 Position Where the fu tact normally biasing said one of said storage cell Weight of s'ald Cell is 110i 011 aid first contact memterminals away from said fixed terminal, whereby h r and wlll be moved to said first position when manual shifting of said storage cell within said case salfi 15 Pflented a POSlfiOH Where e ful will deflect said defiectable contact into engagement WeIght f Sald 0611 is On Said t Contact member;

i h id fi d Contact f complgting a i i to electrical conductor means connecting said first consaid other of said motor terminals when said switch tact member to Said first motor terminal;

i open, a second contact member for engaging said second cell 3 Am bl i cycles i i terminal, said second contact member being spaced a motor having fi t and Second terminals; from said second cell terminal when said cell is in a battery case with opposite ends for holding at least said first positioll and Said second @611 one battery with first and second battery terminals; termmal When Said can is 111 said Second Position; first coupling means for coupling said first battery teri 1 to i fi t motor terminal; electrlcal conductor means connecting said second consecond coupling means for coupling said second battact member to Said Second IIIOIOI rminal.

tery terminal to said second motor terminal, including an operator having a first contact, a second con- References Cited tact movable toward and away from said first con- UNITED STATES PATENTS away from each other at the end of an operating 329261O 12/1966 Newman 46 232X cycle;

a re-start contact normally spaced from said second battery terminal;

means coupling said re-start contact to said second motor terminal;

means for biasing apart said battery and said re-start terminal; and

US. Cl. X.R. 

